Blues victory eight years in the making

FITTINGLY it was Jarryd Hayne who ended up with the ball in his hands as the siren sounded.

The Blues fullback then proceeded to run 30 metres over the dead-ball line at the northern end of ANZ Stadium before launching himself into a sea of delirious Blatchy's Blues to seal a memorable 6-4, and series, win.

He fought back tears when interviewed by Andrew Johns on Channel Nine after the game.

"It's been a long time - oh it's been a long time," he said.

"We fought hard. We've come so close so many times and we had to go to another level. We deed up and deed up and deed up and that's what Origin's about."

The drought was over. It might have taken 87 players and eight years, but it was over.

For years Queensland has been the team to grab victory from the jaws of defeat, but this time it was different.

After full-time Paul Gallen and Laurie Daley made a bee-line for each other.

On the back of four successive sets of six inside the Queensland line it took its toll and the Canterbury halfback sliced through to send the crowd of 83,421 into raptures.

The first one there to congratulate him? Bulldogs teammate Josh Reynolds.

Tonight NSW found a way to win. It wasn't pretty, but they got the job done.

Emotions overcame all of the 17 Blues players who trotted out at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday June 18.

Coach Laurie Daley was hoarse when Johns interviewed him.

But arguably the most emotional of the night was hooker Robbie Farah who tackled himself to a standstill with in excess of 50 tackles.

"I've never wanted anything more in my life," he said.

"I'm sure my mum has a big smile on her face watching down on us tonight.

"We're a tough footy side and we hung in there and kept banging on that door. We haven't been far off, they're not a better side and we showed that tonight."

Queensland fullback Billy Slater was gracious in defeat saying his side didn't take their opportunities when they presented themselves.

"Our defence was tremendous, we got over the line a few times but full credit to New South Wales. It wasn't our night and they defended good on both edges. We hoped to create opportunities, but we didn't capitalise on them."

The Blues will celebrate for a long time to come and will aim for a clean sweep in three weeks at Suncorp.

Good evening footy fans and welcome to ANZ Stadium for tonight's crucial game two encounter between the Blues and Maroons. The Blues are fresh from a nailbiting 12-8 victory at Suncorp three weeks ago and would no doubt fancy their chances of ending Queensland's eight-year dominance.

2: PENALTY Qld. Farah ruled to have stolen the ball off Smith after held was called.

3: Dugan races up and puts Inglis on his backside.

3: Terrible kick from Thurston goes across field and Hoffman claims possession for the Blues.

4: It's taken four minutes but the first New South Wales chant goes up around ANZ.

4: Thurston goes to the air and Hayne comes up with a good catch on his own 20m line.

5: PENALTY Blues. Two men in the tackle and the Maroons are ruled offside. First chance on the attack for the Blues here.

5: Hodkinson finds touch 15 out from the Maroons line.

7: Reynolds chips to the posts and the ball goes dead under a mass of players. Qld 20m restart.

8: Smith kicks to the corner and Hayne is tackled 10 from his own line.

9: Slater slow to his feet after being hit in a solid tackle from Gallen and Woods.

10: Push and shove from the boys after Inglis skipped clear of the Dugan tackle. Play on.

10: Great goal line defence from Scott with the help of Reynolds pulls Smith down short of the line.

10: The boys are getting a bit testy after Thurston slapped Scott from second marker.

10: PENALTY Blues. Thurston penalied for the unnecessary slap.

10: Gallen is ruled to have lost the ball in a four-man Queensland tackle. The crowd aren't happy about it but Gallen needs to hang onto the ball a bit better.

12: Cherry-Evans is hit in a solid tackle from Farah but he manages to somehow get the pass away.

12: PENALTY Maroons. Bird ruled to have interfered with the play-the-ball.

14: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL QUEENSLAND MAROONSPenalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.Thurston posts first points of the night by piloting the ball between the posts at the southern end of the ground.

17: Queensland continue to win the field position battle as they again go over halfway.

18: PENALTY Blues. Hand on the ball.

19: PENALTY Blues. Another hand on the ball from the Maroons. Blues on the attack.

19: Farah passes to Hayne who puts the ball down. In back play Gallen remonstrates with Reynolds after the quick tap was taken. The skipper wanted to take the two.

22: Farah jumps out of dummy half and plugs a kick into the corner. It finds touch 5m from the Queensland line.